The Montebello Democrat says the leave is "not a resignation since I still have my day in court"

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In this Monday June 10, 2013, file photo State Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, left, holds a brief news conference during his first appearance at the Capitol after FBI investigators raided his offices in Sacramento, Calif. Calderon enters the new year with the cloud of an FBI investigation over his head for allegedly accepting money from a hospital executive and undercover FBI agent to influence legislation

"This is not a resignation since I still have my day in court," Calderon said in a statement released Sunday. "However, due to the nature and complexity of the charges, and the discovery materials that I will have to review, I expect this to be a lengthy period of absence continuing until the end of the session in August."

Prosecutors said he accepted $28,000 in bribes from Michael D. Drobot, former owner of the now-closed Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, in exchange for supporting legislation that “delay or limit changes in California’s workers’ compensation laws relating to the amount of medical care providers are reimbursed for performing spinal surgeries.”

Calderon is also accused of paying his daughter $39,000 for a bogus office job and paying around $30,000 for his son’s schooling.

The 56-year-old legislator pleaded not guilty in an arraignment Feb. 24.